dry skin down there

[bill_33]

Okay, so this is kind of embarrassing.  I masturbate about once a day.  Sometimes if it’s at night, I’m not so good about cleaning up. I broke up with my girlfriend about 1 year ago and haven’t been seeing anyone since (I don’t think this is an STD, at least).  I have used the same lotion for the past 7 years (Curel).  I tried some other stuff about 1 year ago(a K-Y type thing), but after a week or 2, my skin got really dry and chapped(and sort of flaked off…), so I stopped it (and everything else for a couple of weeks) and went back to the old stuff.  Anyway, about 1 month ago, I noticed itching and dryness down there (on the penis and scrotum).  At first, I wasn’t sure what it was, because nothing had changed in my routine(masturbate about once a day, about ½ hour), except I was going to the gym more.  I’m pretty good about showering after I go to the gym (they have showers there and provide towels and stuff-not a new gym; belonged there for about 2 -3 years).  Anyway, I thought it might be jock itch, so for about a week I used jock itch powder twice a day just in case, which didn’t really do a whole lot..still dry and kinda‘ irritated.  And after reading a bit about it, it didn’t seem to be it(it really wasn’t very itchy..just kind of chapped and dry).   So, now, after I take a shower, the skin on my penis and scrotum looks really dry and it’s kinda’…leathery?..It feels like there’s a layer of rough skin over the normal skin of the scrotum. Does that make sense?  Anyway, I’ve been trying  some anti-itch/skin cream I got from the drug store(it has hydrocortisone in it) and it’s helped a little bit.   I haven’t used any more curel for the past 2 weeks(or masturbated for that matter).  I also have this vague soreness sometimes down in my groin, where there’s no dryness or anything.  I’m not sure what’s going on.  I’m a little worried that I’ve become allergic to this stuff and am a little freaked out.  I thought lotion would be okay.  It’s supposed to be for dry skin(it even says dermatologist recommended on it..okay, not for masturbating).  I don’t have any lesions or anything.  It just looks dry and it feels....weird..and it‘s weird that my scrotum‘s involved...it doesn‘t really itch...it just...feels weird.  I don’t’ really have any other medical problems.  I have dry skin on the palms of my hands, but I thinks that just from work (I work outside and end up washing my hands a lot).  Oh, I don’t if it matters, but I’m 33 YO.  I'm not sure what to do.  Is this dangerous (some of the picture on the web are kinda' scary)?  Is this gonna' get better?  And should I try a different lotion or something in the future? Should I keep using this skin cream I got from the drug store?

Anyway, thanks in advance for any advice you can give.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

You're describing eczema, which looks and feels dry but is actually inflamed.  Hydrocortisone usually helps, so I would use 15, which needs no prescription.  If that doesn't help, a doctor can recommend a stronger version.  No need to be embarrassed about asking--it happens all the time, even if we're often not sure exactly why it happens now.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[Wonderingman]

I have the same exact symptoms for about two months.  All of a sudden, with no previous history, very dry and flaky skin on my scrotum and penis (and no where else).  Some days more so than others.  Doesn't really itch though.  And the scrotum also often has a leathery feel and look along with the obviously dry and flaky skin.  I saw the earlier response as probable eczema.  My only follow up question is that it doesn't really itch and I thought one of the telltale signs of eczema was always itchniness which is not really the case here.  So, does eczema ALWAYS itch or not always?  Thanks.

[confusedalot]

i also have dry itchy skin down there but unlike the others im itchy all the time but even more when i fall asleep in my clothes or have been sweating please tell me theres somthing to help it ive been to embaressed to ask my dr and its been bothering me for quite some time thank you

[scaredkid93]

A related discussion, HELP was started.